Declaration by the Participants to the Peace Negotiations in Burundi

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Country/entity: Burundi
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Declaration by the Participants to the Peace Negotiations in Burundi
Date: 21 Jun 1998
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Burundian Civil War (1993-2005)
The conflict had an ethnic base between Hutu and Tutsi populations, and is one of a set of regionally connected conflicts also addressed n the Great Lakes process. Since independence in 1972, the Burundian political landscape has been polarised and marked by ethnic-based tensions, political assassinations and large-scale violence. For the following two decades, three Tutsi military regimes associated with the Union for National Progress (UPRONA) ruled the country. During these military dictatorships, numerous waves of mass violence resulted from the attempts of various opposition rebels groups to destabilise the three regimes, and the regimes’ use of violence to repress these attempts. Despite a wave of hope in the early 1990’s, Burundi entered a decade-long civil war in 1993 following the assassination of Burundi’s first democratically elected president, Melchior Ndadaye, from the ethnically-Hutu Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) by Tutsi opposition in the military.
In 1998 the Arusha Peace Talks commenced and in August 2000, international pressure resulted in the signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi. However, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNND) did not sign. Additionally, and Party for the Liberation of Hutu People (Palipehutu) did not participate in negotiations. These outsiders continued sporadic violence until 2008. In 2015, a new wave of political violence is taking place after President Nkurunziza, from the CNDD-FDD which has been in power since 2005, won a contested third-mandate.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Burundi: Arusha and related peace process
Parties: we, the leaders/representatives of the parties to the conflict, namely, the Government of Burundi, National Assembly, Front pour
la democratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), Union pour le progrès national (UPRONA), Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD), Parti pour le redressement nationale (PARENA), Parti libéral (PL), Parti indépendant des travailleurs (PIT), Parti social democrate (PSD), Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut (ABASA), INKINZO, AV-INTWARI, Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple (PRP), Parti du peuple (PP), Rassemblement du peuple burundais (RPB), Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi (PALIPEHUTU) and Front de la
libération nationale (FROLINA), in the presence of representatives of the following organizations of civil society: the Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Association and the Youth Organization

1. Government of Burundi
(Signed) Ambrose NIYONSABA, Head of delegation
2. National Assembly
(Signed) Alphonse NAHINDAVYI-NDANGA, Head of delegation
3. Front pour la democratie au Burundi
(Signed) Jean MINANI, Head of delegation
4. Union pour le progrès national Express reservations
(Signed) Libère BARARUNYERETSE, Head of delegation
5. Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie
(Signed) Leonard NYANGOMA, Head of delegation
6. Parti pour le redressement national
(Signed) Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, Head of Delegation
7. Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut
(Signed) Nsanze TERENCE, Head of Delegation
8. AV-INTWARI
(Signed) André NKUNDIKIJE, Head of delegation
9. Front pour la libération nationale
(Signed) Joseph KARUMBA, Head of delegation
10. INKINZO
(Signed) Kamo PASCAL, Head of delegation
11. Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi
(Signed) Antoine SEZOYA, Head of delegation
12. Parti indépendant des travailleurs
(Signed) Etienne NYAHOZA, Head of delegation
13. Parti libéral
(Signed) Gaetan NIKOBAMYE, Head of delegation
14. Parti du peuple
(Signed) Schadrack NIYONKURU, Head of delegation
15. Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple
(Signed) Mathias HITIMANA, Head of delegation
16. Parti social democrate
(Signed) Godefroy HAKIZIMANA, Head of delegation
17. Rassemblement du peuple burundais
(Signed) Balthazar BIGIRIMANA, Head of delegation
Third parties: - At the invitation of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, the Facilitator of the peace negotiations on Burundi

- In that connection, we thank the heads of State and Government of the region, the representatives of the secretaries-general of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations for the encouragement and support which they offered at the opening ceremony of
the peace negotiations.
...
We express our special appreciation and deep gratitude to the Facilitator, Mwalimu K. Nyerere, for his patience and commitment to the quest for a just and lasting peace in Burundi.
Description: This agreement was reached at the first session of negotiations between Burundian parties. It demonstrates and provides for the following dimensions: (1) the universal commitment to resolve the Burundi conflict by peaceful means and end all forms of violence; (2) the commitment to resume talks in one month’s time; (3) the setting of the agenda for the comprehensive negotiations; (4) the appointment of the committees which are to assume responsibility for the various agenda items.

Agreement document: BI_980621_DeclarationByTheParticipantsToPeaceNegotiationsOnBurundi.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, Untitled Preamble:
... we, the leaders/representatives of the parties to the conflict, namely, the Government of Burundi, National Assembly, Front pour
la democratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), Union pour le progrès national (UPRONA), Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD), Parti pour le redressement nationale (PARENA), Parti libéral (PL), Parti indépendant des travailleurs (PIT), Parti social democrate (PSD), Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut (ABASA), INKINZO, AV-INTWARI, Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple (PRP), Parti du peuple (PP), Rassemblement du peuple burundais (RPB), Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi (PALIPEHUTU) and Front de la libération nationale (FROLINA), in the presence of representatives of the following organizations of civil society: the Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Association and the Youth Organization

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: Implementation→Signing or witnessing agreement
Page 1, Untitled Preamble:
... we, the leaders/representatives of the parties to the conflict, namely, the Government of Burundi, National Assembly, Front pour la democratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), Union pour le progrès national (UPRONA), Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD), Parti pour le redressement nationale (PARENA), Parti libéral (PL), Parti indépendant des travailleurs (PIT), Parti social democrate (PSD), Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut (ABASA), INKINZO, AV-INTWARI, Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple (PRP), Parti du peuple (PP), Rassemblement du peuple burundais (RPB), Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi (PALIPEHUTU) and Front de la libération nationale (FROLINA), in the presence of representatives of the following organizations of civil society: the Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Association and the Youth Organization...
Other: No specific mention.

Declaration by the participants to the peace negotiations on Burundi, involving all the parties to the Burundi conflict, done at Arusha on 21 June 1998

At the invitation of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, the Facilitator of the peace negotiations on Burundi, we, the leaders/representatives of the parties to the conflict, namely, the Government of Burundi, National Assembly, Front pour la democratie au Burundi (FRODEBU), Union pour le progrès national (UPRONA), Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (CNDD), Parti pour le redressement nationale (PARENA), Parti libéral (PL), Parti indépendant des travailleurs (PIT), Parti social democrate (PSD), Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut (ABASA), INKINZO, AV-INTWARI, Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple (PRP), Parti du peuple (PP), Rassemblement du peuple burundais (RPB), Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi (PALIPEHUTU) and Front de la libération nationale (FROLINA), in the presence of representatives of the following organizations of civil society:

the Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Association and the Youth Organization,

Aware of our historic responsibility, we share the same conviction that we owe it to the Burundian people, both present and future generations, to create a climate of lasting peace in our country and to put an end to the constant cycle of violence and fratricide that has long afflicted Burundi,

Aware of the suffering of our people, we are determined to exercise, individually and collectively, responsible leadership with the aim of putting an end to this suffering and creating the conditions for peaceful coexistence on the basis of democratic values and security for all,

(i) We solemnly undertake to carry out serious negotiations until we find a just and lasting solution to this crisis in our country;

(ii) We undertake to settle the Burundi conflict by peaceful means and to put an end to all forms of violence;

(iii) Consequently, all the armed parties to the conflict declare a suspension of hostilities as from 20 July 1998 at the latest;

Pursuant to the above-mentioned decisions, we undertake, individually and collectively, to return to Arusha on 20 July 1998 to start the second session of our negotiations, which has been convened by the Facilitator;

We also agree that the questions to be submitted for negotiation shall be as follows:

(a) Nature of the Burundi conflict and problems of genocide and exclusion and their solutions;

(b) Democracy and good governance, institutional systems, constitutional systems, the question of justice and the effort to combat impunity, the judicial system, and administrative system and transitional institutions;

(c) Peace and security for all, the question of public security and defence forces, the cessation of hostilities, provisions for the permanent ceasefire;

(d) Rehabilitation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons, reconstruction and economic and social development;

(e) Guarantees for the implementation of the agreement arising from the peace negotiations on Burundi.

Consequently, the parties have decided to set up the following committees:

1. Committee on the Nature of the Burundian Conflict, the Problems of Genocide and Exclusion and their Solutions;

2. Committee on Democracy and Good Governance;

3. Committee on Peace and Security for All;

4. Committee on Reconstruction and Economic Development;

5. Committee on Guarantees for the Implementation of the Agreement Arising from the Peace Negotiations on Burundi;

In order to ensure the smooth functioning of negotiations, the parties agree to adopt, in timely fashion, a document to be submitted by the Facilitator on the methodology, timetable, organization and administrative provisions and rules of procedure.

These rules will address, inter alia, questions of participation, conduct of deliberations, code of conduct of participants, role of the various protagonists, organization of the secretariat, working languages, communications and logistics.

Lastly, we express our satisfaction at the progress that was made at the first session of our peace negotiations in Arusha.

In that connection, we thank the heads of State and Government of the region, the representatives of the secretaries-general of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations for the encouragement and support which they offered at the opening ceremony of the peace negotiations.

We should also like to express our thanks to the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania for the warm welcome and hospitality they offered to all the delegations.

We express our special appreciation and deep gratitude to the Facilitator, Mwalimu K. Nyerere, for his patience and commitment to the quest for a just and lasting peace in Burundi.

1. Government of Burundi We have reservations on:

- the venue of the next session;

- the wording concerning the suspension of hostilities, which should refer only to armed factions. (

Signed) Ambrose NIYONSABA Head of delegation

2. National Assembly (Signed) Alphonse NAHINDAVYI-NDANGA Head of delegation

3. Front pour la democratie au Burundi (Signed) Jean MINANI Head of delegation

4. Union pour le progrès national Express reservations to para.

1, para.

3 (iii), and para.

4, on the role of civil society, the suspension of hostilities and the venue of the next session. (

Signed) Libère BARARUNYERETSE Head of delegation

5. Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie (Signed) Leonard NYANGOMA Head of delegation

6. Parti pour le redressement national (Signed) Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA Head of Delegation

7.Alliance burundo-africaine pour le salut (Signed) Nsanze TERENCE Head of Delegation

8. AV-INTWARI (Signed) André NKUNDIKIJE Head of delegation With the following four express reservations:

(1) Para.

3 (iii) "armed factions";

(2) Venue of negotiations to be determined;

(3) "Genocide and security in Burundi (First Committee) (4) Sixth Committee - Establishment of an environment favourable to negotiations (lifting of sanctions)

9. Front pour la libération nationale (Signed) Joseph KARUMBA Head of delegation

10. INKINZO With the reservation that the following points should be reviewed:

- Civil society (participation in negotiations);

- Venue of the second session to be determined;

- Suspension of hostilities (para.

3 (iii)). (

Signed) Kamo PASCAL Head of delegation

11. Parti pour la libération du peuple hutu du Burundi (Signed) Antoine SEZOYA Head of delegation

12. Parti indépendant des travailleurs (Signed) Etienne NYAHOZA Head of delegation The PIT signs with the following express reservations:

(1) Armed factions;

(2) Venue of negotiations to be determined;

(3) Create a Sixth Committee:

establishment of an environment favourable to negotiations (lifting of sanctions).

13. Parti libéral (Signed) Gaetan NIKOBAMYE Head of delegation

14. Parti du peuple (Signed) Schadrack NIYONKURU Head of delegation

15. Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple Reservations on the role of civil society and the suspension of hostilities. (

Signed) Mathias HITIMANA Head of delegation

16. Parti social democrate (Signed) Godefroy HAKIZIMANA Head of delegation Express reservations to paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, on the role of civil society, the suspension of hostilities and the venue of the next meeting, including the lifting of sanctions to improve the atmosphere of the work.

17. Rassemblement du peuple burundais (Signed) Balthazar BIGIRIMANA Head of delegation

Annex II

Press release at the close of the first session of the inter-Burundian negotiations held in Arusha from 15 to 21 June 1998

Arusha, 21 June 1998

At the close of the first session of the inter-Burundian negotiations held in Arusha from 15 to 21 June 1998, the undersigned stated the following:

1. Through the consultations organized with each party by the Facilitator, agreement was reached on various points:

(1) the universal commitment to resolve the Burundi conflict by peaceful means and end all forms of violence;

(2) the commitment to resume talks in one month’s time;

(3) the setting of the agenda for the comprehensive negotiations;

(4) the appointment of the committees which are to assume responsibility for the various agenda items.

2. Owing to lack of time, a consensus has not yet been reached on the following matters:

(1) the venues for the next sessions;

(2) the suspension of hostilities;

and (3) the maintenance of civil society as one of the parties.

- Concerning the venues, we recommend that these should be decided in agreement with the Facilitator and the committee officials;

- Concerning the suspension of hostilities, we recommend that all parties should immediately refrain from all violence.

We further recommend that, in the next sessions, the parties should agree upon the means of implementing this suspension of hostilities;

- Concerning civil society, we recommend that it should be maintained as one of the parties.

It is the primary victim of this conflict, in particular as a result of the embargo and the violence;

it has considerable influence in society, and its exclusion may hinder the acceptability of any agreements reached.

3. In conclusion, we are convinced that:

- A compromise on the points of disagreement would probably have been reached if enough time had been set aside in the negotiation for direct discussions between the Burundians that would have enabled them to reconcile their points of view;

- In itself, the meeting of all the parties in Arusha was successful.

Moreover, the above-mentioned points of agreement provide a sufficient basis for embarking on the second phase of the negotiations;

- In any event, the undersigned parties solemnly reaffirm their commitment to conduct the negotiations within the agreed time limit.

DONE at Arusha on 21 June 1998.

SIGNATORIES:

1. For the Union pour le progrès national (UPRONA) (Signed) Libère BARARUNYERETSE

2. For the Parti pour la réconciliation du peuple (PRP) (Signed) Albert GIRUKWISHAKA

3. For INKINZO (Signed) Kamo PASCAL

4. For the Parti indépendant des travailleurs (PIT) (Signed) Etienne NYAHOZA

5. For the Parti social democrate (PSD) (Signed) Godefroy HAKIZIMANA

6. ( Signed) André NKUNDIKIJE President of Av-Intware

7. ( Signed) Joseph NTIDENDEREZA Secretary-General of the Parti libéral -----